Organisers say all four mayoral candidates were invited to a public meeting last week.

But Councillor Joe Michna, the Liberal Democrat candidate, was the only one of the four to attend.

The current mayor, Ray Mallon, declined to attend. Also absent were Labour candidate Charlie Rooney and Conservative Dorothy Smith.

Mr Mallon said: "Throughout my term as mayor I have visited every community council and attended hundreds of meetings with members of the public and business.

"The most recent of many such meetings with Gresham residents was just last month.

"As a truly independent mayor I decided at the start of this election campaign that I would not attend meetings organised on behalf of political parties."

Gareth Dadd, agent for Dorothy Smith, said: "She has been out on the streets talking directly to the residents of Middlesbrough."

Labour candidate Charlie Rooney said he was also out canvassing, adding: "Middlesbrough Independents have not fielded their own candidate for mayor, so I don't think they had any right to call a debate."

The meeting, at the Ace Centre on Parliament Road, was organised by the Middlesbrough Independents.

Cllr Michna said: "This is not a one-horse race."

He said the council had suffered as a result of the current set-up.

He said: "I think it is important that whoever is elected sees the council chamber not as an enemy.

The council chamber should be a major forum for debate on all the key issues in this town."

He was asked by residents about the Gresham redevelopment plan.

"We have never ruled out a certain level of demolition," he said.

But he said the scale of the proposed demolition could not be justified.

If he became mayor, he would carry out a "comprehensive review".

He promised he would develop neighbourhood improvement plans for every residential area.

There would also be a "major blitz" on the litter problem in the town.

He said the town didn't need a large casino. There were more than enough gambling outlets already.